The precise answer depends to a large extent on storage conditions - to maximize the shelf life of opened sour cream, keep it refrigerated at all times. To maximize the shelf life of sour cream after opening, keep refrigerated and tightly covered, either in the original packaging or in an airtight container. Properly stored, an opened package of sour cream will generally last for about two weeks after opening, assuming it has been continuously refrigerated.
Definition of cauterize for English Language Learners medical: to burn (something, such as a wound) with heat or a chemical substance in order to destroy infected tissue Medical Dictionary
A surgical instrument or agent used to burn, scar or destroy tissue. The electric cautery often consists of a short loop of wire, at the end of an insulated handle, which is made red hot by the passage of an electric current. The actual cautery is a metal rod heated in a flame.